{"id":42866,"date":"2023-03-14T13:06:44","date_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:06:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/?p=117036"},"modified":"2023-03-14T13:32:42","modified_gmt":"2023-03-14T13:32:42","slug":"astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/rss_feed\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronauts\u2019 toilet waste could be used as fuel, say scientists"},"content":{"rendered":"

Ammonia present in waste water on the ISS could be used to power spaceflight. Could the technique be used for missions to Mars? <\/p>

By Iain Todd\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Tuesday, 14 March 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

\n\n

A team of scientists say they have worked out how to turn astronauts\u2019 toilet waste water into fuel for space travel.<\/p>\n

The results could provide a sustainable source of fuel for future crewed missions to Mars and beyond.<\/p>\n

The study, called \u2018Autonomous Electrochemical System for Ammonia Oxidation Reaction Measurements at the International Space Stations<\/em>\u2018, aimed to produce a device that could convert ammonia to energy on the International Space Station<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The NASA-funded project was a partnership between technology company NuVant Systems<\/a>, Northeastern University<\/a> and the University of Texas at El Paso<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n<p>Ammonia is expelled by the human body as a waste product, and so it is present in human wastewater.<\/p>\n<p>It can be used as a high-energy fuel, as well as for fertiliser and refrigerant.<\/p>\n<p>The team behind the study worked on the basis that ammonia can be converted to nitrogen and electrical energy through the so-called ammonia oxidation reaction.<\/p>\n<ul><li><a href=\""https:\/\/www.skyatnightmagazine.com\/space-missions\/what-do-astronauts-eat-in-space\/"\"><em><strong>What do astronauts eat in space?<\/strong><\/em><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul><p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C166,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C166,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C196,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=355%2C196,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=405%2C224,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=405%2C224,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C307,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C307,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C343"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C343"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=408%2C226,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C226,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=556%2C308,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C308,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-117039\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/ammonia-oxidation-reaction-measurement-system-b67f016.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C343"\" width=\""1200"\" height=\""664"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> A diagram of the ammonia oxidation reaction measurement system. Credit: Eugene Smotkin<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>An autonomous ammonia oxidation reaction device measuring 4x4x8 inches was delivered to the International Space Station to see whether fuel could be produced from the astronauts\u2019 toilet water.<\/p>\n<p>The study showed that the system performed its function \u201cadequately\u201d, and that a scaled-up version could be developed in future.<\/p>\n<p>However, the one challenge facing the team was how to make the device work in zero gravity.<\/p>\n<p>On Earth, plumbing systems can rely on gravity to operate smoothly, but in Earth orbit on the ISS, liquid simply floats as a spherical blob.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=300%2C199,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=355%2C236,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=405%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=405%2C269,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C368,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=554%2C368,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C412"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=620%2C412"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=408%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=408%2C271,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=556%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=556%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-117044\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/water-space-zero-gravity-7a46d71-e1678796438649.jpeg?quality=90&resize=620%2C412"\" width=\""1200"\" height=\""797"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> NASA astronaut Karen Nyberg and a droplet of water in zero gravity onboard the International Space Station. Credit: NASA<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>The team behind the study point out that in an enclosed environment during long-duration spaceflight, energy is a vital resource and shouldn\u2019t be wasted.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe wanted to see if waste can be used as fuel in space travel,\u201d says Eugene Smotkin, a Northeastern chemistry and biology professor and one of the leading researchers on the project.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou do it in the space program because you must do it,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n<div class=\""image-handler__container\" image-handler__container--full=\"\" style=\""padding-bottom:\" calc=\"\"> <picture><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=300%2C200,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=355%2C237,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=405%2C270,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(max-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=554%2C369,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=408%2C272,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?webp=true&quality=90&resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/webp"\"><source media=\""(min-width:\" data-srcset=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=556%2C371,\" https:=\"\" type=\""image\/jpeg"\"><img class=\""wp-image-117047\" align=\"\" size-full=\"\" image-handler__image=\"\" image-handler__image--full=\"\" no-wrap=\"\" js-lazyload=\"\" data-src=\""https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/512189732909ec06cf34ak-d6826f7-e1678797814614.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413"\" width=\""1200"\" height=\""800"\" alt=\"""\" title=\"""\"\/><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div><div class=\""caption-hold"\"><figcaption class=\""wp-caption-text"\"><span class=\""caption-copy"\"><i class=\""icon-arrow\" icon-camera-circle=\"\"\/> Astronauts Mark Vande Hei (left) and Shane Kimbrough install a new toilet inside the International Space Station\u2019s Tranquility module, May 2021. Credit: NASA<\/span><\/figcaption><span class=\""im-image-caption"\"\/><\/div>\n<p>\u201cBecause you\u2019re isolated, and you\u2019re out there in the space station, and you have a choice\u2014you can eject (waste) or extract usefulness from it. Clearly, the latter is better.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Many technologies developed for human spaceflight end up being used back on Earth. Could this technique have terrestrial applications?<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have an energy shortage right now,\u201d Smotkin says. \u201cWe don\u2019t have the ability to store energy.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd fuel is not readily available to all 8 billion people here. Many people have no electricity, so we must find low-cost sources. And these can contribute to that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Read the full paper at <a href=\"\/\/assets.researchsquare.com\/files\/rs-1638507\/v1\/9cc6ae7a-04ed-449e-b41f-f0069d94f443.pdf?c=1657739385"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">assets.researchsquare.com<\/a>.<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Get more on this story at <a href=\"\/\/news.northeastern.edu\/2023\/02\/28\/converting-urine-energy-outer-space\/"\" target=\""_blank"\" rel=\""noopener" noopener noreferrer\">news.northeastern.edu<\/a><\/strong><\/em><\/p> <\/body><\/html>\n<hr class=\"no-tts wp-block-separator\"\/>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p> Ammonia present in waste water on the ISS could be used to power spaceflight. Could the technique be used for missions to Mars? <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":24,"featured_media":42867,"template":"","categories":[1],"acf":{"readingTimeMinutes":"3"},"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/03\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists.png",1920,1080,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/03\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/03\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists-300x169.png",300,169,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/03\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists-768x432.png",768,432,true],"large":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/03\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists-1024x576.png",800,450,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/03\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists-1536x864.png",1536,864,true],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/uploads\/sites\/77\/2023\/03\/astronauts-toilet-waste-could-be-used-as-fuel-say-scientists.png",1920,1080,false]},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"importmanagerhub@sprylab.com","author_link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/author\/importmanagerhubsprylab-com\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Ammonia present in waste water on the ISS could be used to power spaceflight. Could the technique be used for missions to Mars?","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed\/42866"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/rss_feed"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/rss_feed"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/24"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/42867"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=42866"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcskyatnight\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=42866"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}